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Swiss Politics

Switzerland looks on as Norway and Iceland join Schengen states

This content was published on Mar 26, 2001 The Schengen agreement forms an integral part of the EU treaty and defines the union’s policies on such issues as cross-border cooperation between police forces, border control and asylum. Last month, Switzerland declared that it would seek accession to the agreement in future negotiations with the EU. As non-EU members, Norway and Iceland’s association with…

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Deiss to discuss humanitarian law with Israeli PM

This content was published on Mar 26, 2001 After two days in the Palestinian territories, Deiss is in Jerusalem for high-level talks with Sharon and the Israeli foreign minister, Shimon Peres. The Swiss foreign ministry is keeping tight-lipped about the agenda, but Deiss is expected to raise the situation in the Palestinian territories with the Israeli leader. On Sunday, Deiss expressed concern about…

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Deiss warns of instability in Palestinian territories

This content was published on Mar 25, 2001 “The situation in the Palestinian areas is extremely difficult and precarious,” Deiss said on Sunday. He said the lack of hope, coupled with the economic problems, meant there was a growing risk of instability. Deiss also expressed concern over restrictions on the freedom of movement of Palestinians because of the Israeli policy of sealing off…

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Thousands demonstrate in Geneva against Macedonian crackdown

This content was published on Mar 24, 2001 The demonstrators – mostly residents of Switzerland and Germany – also called for equal rights for Albanians in the mainly Slav former Yugoslav republic. “We are not terrorists. We just want equality,” the participants said. Many of those who took part in the two-hour rally outside the United Nations European headquarters carried placards calling for…

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Deiss and Arafat hold talks in the West Bank

This content was published on Mar 23, 2001 During their hour-long meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Deiss reportedly condemned all forms of terrorism and stressed the importance of respecting international human rights. According to a Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesman, Deiss assured Arafat that Switzerland would continue to offer its support to the Palestinian people. In addition, Deiss informed Arafat on…

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Swiss investigating more gold imports from Yugoslavia

This content was published on Mar 22, 2001 The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) confirmed on Thursday that it was trying to trace the movement of the gold, valued at SFr1.4 million ($820,000), which was sold in Switzerland in 1999. Seco is already investigating the import of a separate shipment of 173 kilogrammes of gold, which was imported through Zurich last year.…

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Switzerland names new ambassador to US

This content was published on Mar 22, 2001 Blickenstorfer, a career diplomat, was formerly ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and several Gulf states, and is known as a specialist on Arab affairs. He has also served as deputy ambassador in the US. The changeover is part of the normal rotation of diplomatic staff, and comes as Defago finishes his five-year tenure in Washington. Defago…

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Parliament insists on inquiry into Swiss links with the Stasi

This content was published on Mar 20, 2001 During Tuesday’s parliamentary debate in Lugano, the House unanimously reiterated its support for a proposal to commission a report by a historian on relations between Switzerland and former East Germany. Under the proposal, an expert would also look into the activities of the Stasi, East Germany’s former secret service, in Switzerland. The mandate for the…

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Swiss Politics

UN Human Rights chief stepping down over meagre resources

This content was published on Mar 20, 2001 Speaking to reporters after her resignation speech on the first day of the session, Robinson said she was going because resources in her department were so meagre that they had become a major obstacle to her work. She told delegates she believed she could do more to promote human rights “outside the constraints” of the…

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Samaranch seeks to defuse row over honours

This content was published on Mar 19, 2001 In a number of press interviews, Samaranch made clear that he had never sought the Citizenship of Honour, the city’s highest civic award: “I don’t aspire to this distinction. I never asked for anything and don’t expect anything.” Samaranch’s comments come amid speculation that the Lausanne municipal authorities are intending only to give the Spaniard…

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